95. Cheese Plate From the Cheese Culture

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95. Cheese Plate from the Cheese Culture

The Cheese Culture opened on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale this past August once owner Susan Phipps was inspired by a shop in Atlanta. "Cheese was stacked from floor to ceiling," she says. "My jaw dropped. I couldn't speak for several minutes."

To school herself, Phipps trekked to the Cheese School of San Francisco for boot camp. She also sent an email to Steve Jenkins, AKA "The King of Cheese" and architect for the cheese section in New York's Fairway Market, who hooked her up with David Grotenstein, a cheese consultant who sits on the board of the American Cheese Society. He helped her build upon her knowledge and stock the store.

Since the opening, business has been brisk, says manager Chris O'Toole. He recommends five of the shop's best-selling cheeses: